IntroductionThis study used social network theory to explore the role of social support and social networks in health information–seeking behavior among Korean American (KA) adults.MethodsA descriptive qualitative study using a web-based online survey was conducted from January 2013 to April 2013 in the U.S. The survey included open-ended questions about health information–seeking experiences in personal social networks and their importance in KA adults. Themes emerging from a constant comparative analysis of the narrative comments by 129 of the 202 respondents were analyzed.ResultsThe sample consisted of 129 KA adults, 64.7% female, with a mean age of 33.2 (SD = 7.7). Friends, church members, and family members were the important network connections for KAs to obtain health information. KAs looked for a broad range of health information from social network members, from recommendations and reviews of hospitals/doctors to specific diseases or health conditions. These social networks were regarded as important for KAs because there were no language barriers, social network members had experiences similar to those of other KAs, they felt a sense of belonging with those in their networks, the network connections promoted increased understanding of different health care systems of the U.S. system, and communication with these network connections helped enhance feelings of being physically and mentally healthy.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the important role that social support and personal social networks perform in the dissemination of health information for a large ethnic population, KAs, who confront distinct cultural challenges when seeking health information in the U.S. Data from this study also illustrate the cultural factors that influence health information acquisition and access to social support for ethnic minorities. This study provides practical insights for professionals in health information services, namely, that social networks can be employed as a channel for disseminating health information to immigrants.

No abstract

To eliminate health disparities in the United States, identifying cultural contexts salient to the target populations in an intervention study is critical; however, little research has been conducted on the identification of cultural contexts among Korean Americans who have significant risk factors for chronic diseases. This systematic review identifies critical cultural contexts central to the literature discussed in health research on Korean Americans. We examined 14 research reports of 801 potentially eligible articles published between 2000 and 2016 and analyzed their contribution to cultural contexts among Korean Americans based on the PEN-3 model. This review highlights how cultural contexts impact health and health behaviors of Korean Americans, and may contribute to health disparities in the United States. The key cultural contexts highlighted in this review include social support/social network, family, gender role expectations, and a holistic view of health and illness. These cultural contexts should be incorporated in designing culturally relevant, effective, and sustainable health interventions for Korean Americans, which will contribute to eliminating health disparities for this ethnic group who experience great obstacles to healthcare access and healthy behaviors.

Objective The objective of the study was to identify facilitators and barriers to emergency medical service use among acute ischemic stroke patients in Korea. Methods This paper presents a secondary analysis of a retrospective survey that collected data from questionnaires and medical records. Among 233 acute ischemic stroke patients enrolled in a large-scale study, 160 patients who had arrived at a hospital within 72 h after symptom onset were included in the data analysis. Results Users of emergency medical services needed a shorter time than non-users to arrive at hospital (140 min vs. 625 min., p = 0.001) and were more likely to arrive at hospital within 3 h of symptom onset (51.9% vs. 31.5%, p = 0.013). For those who first contacted emergency medical service, the facilitators of emergency medical service use were the presence of hemiparesis ( p = 0.003), bilateral paralysis ( p = 0.040), and loss of balance ( p = 0.021). The predominant barrier was the failure to recognize the urgency of symptoms ( p = 0.006). Conclusions The use of emergency medical services reduced prehospital delay and increased the likelihood of patient arrival at hospital within 3 h. Given that experiencing typical stroke symptoms was a facilitator of emergency medical service use yet failure to recognize the urgency of symptoms was a barrier, public awareness should be raised as regards stroke symptoms and the benefits of using emergency medical services.

Nationwide efforts are needed to promote public awareness of stroke and to develop strategies to reduce prehospital delay time for ischemic stroke patients, particularly those who reside in rural areas in Korea.